Nigeria’s vast investment in digital infrastructure for tertiary institutions risks going to waste due to poor utilisation, the Executive Secretary of the Tertiary Education Trust Fund (TETFund), Sonny Echono, warned on Monday. Speaking in Abuja at a digital adoption workshop, Echono emphasised that embracing technology in universities, polytechnics, and colleges of education is crucial to expanding access and improving quality amid Nigeria’s fast-growing population.
“The government has done its part by providing the infrastructure,” Echono stressed. “But when equipment is procured and platforms created and they are not being used, that is the very definition of waste.” The workshop focused on the adoption and usage of the Blackboard/Tertiary Education, Research, Applications and Services (TERAS) digital platform, aimed at enhancing teaching, research, and administration in beneficiary institutions.
Echono recalled how TETFund’s collaboration with state governments and media during the COVID-19 lockdown helped deliver WAEC syllabus-based lessons, contributing to one of Nigeria’s best ever West African Examination Council results. Despite these efforts, Nigeria still ranks 189th globally and 25th in Africa for education competitiveness, trailing smaller countries like Rwanda and Mauritius that have invested heavily in ICT.
“We are no longer confined to the four walls of classrooms,” Echono said. “With just an Android phone or device, students should be able to access content, participate in learning, and acquire skills. There is no alternative to technology if we must prepare our youth for the opportunities ahead.”
TETFund plans to shift more than half of its education budget towards digital investments, moving away from solely funding physical infrastructure. Echono encouraged institutions to fully onboard staff and students onto TERAS and ensure their websites are regularly updated with relevant data.
Highlighting China’s rise through knowledge and innovation, Echono called on Nigerian institutions to modernise administrative processes. “Some institutions still send hardcopy requests despite clear instructions to use electronic submissions. Such practices slow down operations and defeat the purpose of government’s digital transition,” he noted.
TETFund’s Director of ICT, Joseph Odo, explained the workshops will extend across all six geopolitical zones to boost familiarity and collaboration around digital platforms, ultimately improving planning and learning outcomes nationwide.
Nigeria’s education sector is benefitting from unprecedented funding this year, with N1.6 trillion allocated towards tertiary education interventions, student loans, energy infrastructure, and security upgrades. Of this, over N460 billion targets direct institutional support, while N225 billion boosts the Nigerian Education Loan Fund to assist financially disadvantaged students.
Echono concluded, “Our challenge now is to ensure that the technology and funding provided translate into tangible improvements in education quality and accessibility. Failure to do so not only wastes resources but jeopardises Nigeria’s future competitiveness.”
